App Store Submission Checklist: 2026 Complete Guide
Comprehensive checklist for submitting your app to Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Avoid common rejection reasons.
You've built your app. Now it's time to get it in front of users. Here's everything you need for a successful App Store submission.
What Do You Need to Submit an App to the App Store?
At minimum: a developer account, app binary, app metadata (name, description, keywords, screenshots), a privacy policy URL, and a working build that passes Apple's App Review Guidelines. Most rejections trace back to one of three issues — crashes, incomplete metadata, or guideline 4.2 minimum functionality.
Before Submission
App Metadata
- App name (30 characters max for iOS)
- Subtitle/short description (30 characters for iOS)
- Full description (up to 4,000 characters)
- Keywords (iOS: 100 characters, Android: 80 characters for short description)
- Category selection (primary + secondary)
- Content rating questionnaire
Visual Assets
- App icon (1024×1024 PNG, no alpha channel)
- Screenshots — minimum 3 per device size. Apple's current required sizes change periodically
- Preview video (optional but recommended — boosts conversion rate)
Legal Requirements
- Privacy Policy URL (required by App Review Guideline 5.1.1)
- Terms of Service URL
- Data collection disclosure (App Privacy labels)
- GDPR compliance if serving EU users
Technical
- No crashes on launch
- All features functional
- No placeholder content ("Lorem ipsum" gets rejected)
- Proper error handling
- Loading states for all async operations
Common Rejection Reasons
- Crashes or bugs — Test on multiple devices using TestFlight
- Incomplete metadata — Fill every field
- Misleading screenshots — Must show actual app
- Privacy issues — Disclose all data collection in App Privacy details
- Guideline 4.2 (Minimum Functionality) — Apple rejects apps that are "just websites" or duplicates of templates
How Long Does App Store Review Take?
Apple publishes current review times. As of 2025 the median is 24–48 hours, with 90% of apps reviewed within 48 hours. Google Play typically publishes within a few hours for established developer accounts.
After Submission
- Respond promptly to any reviewer questions — most rejections can be resolved in one back-and-forth
- Don't change the binary during review (resets the queue)
- Plan a launch strategy for the day it goes live
Good luck with your launch!
AppBuilder Team
Product builders who have shipped apps on both stores
Writes about no-code app building, AI tooling, and shipping products on the App Store and Play Store.